The Best Worst Trad Climbing in the U.S.

"...What followed was perhaps the coolest, as well as the most challenging, day I had ever experienced on this planet. My god. I was already smoked by the end of the approach. I felt college jelly rolls—baby fat—grinding between my harness and the waistbelt of my chalk bag. I was greener than a Colorado license plate, trying desperately to crimp crystals while perfect cracks mangled my uncallused hands and angry feet. I toproped the shit out of all five pitches, Jess’s pearly mansmile greeting me at each god-given belay. I fell, I hung, I cursed, I bled, I cleaned gear, I failed to clean gear. I didn’t cry. But I think I was close..."